Department of Defence / DVA Links Steering Committee
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Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Department of Defence / DVA Links Steering Committee
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Summary of Meeting – 26 November 2015
The 35thDepartment of Defence (Defence)/Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Links Steering Committee (DLSC) was held in Canberra on 26 November 2015. The following matters were discussed at the meeting:
Defence/DVA Executive Committee (DDEC) meeting 2015
The Chair reported on a productive meeting, with DDECnoting that the two departments were working towards alignment in their health strategies and rehabilitation tenders and that the two departments were coordinating work on complimentary employment initiatives.
DDEC was briefed on the Defence/DVA Information Exchange Strategy in which the Early Engagement Model is seen as a key enabler to its success.
DDEC also noted that one of the initiativesfrom the 2014 DDEC meeting,whereby the DVA Secretary now writes to transitioning ADF members,was working well.
Support Continuum Performance Report
The Committee reviewed the September 2015 Support Continuum Performance Report. There was general discussion on the types of data reported and key performance indicator benchmarks for reporting mechanisms and ADF separation rates.
Information Management Working Group (IMWG) Report
The Committee was provided with a progress report from the IMWG meeting of 2 September 2015. The key activities discussed included work being undertaken to improve data access and information exchange arrangements between the two Departments
Qualifying Service
The Committee was advised that the two Departments are continuing to work together regarding automated decision making.
Defence/DVA/Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) interface for transitioning ADF members
Work continues between the three Agencies to ensure closer cooperation and greater data sharing.
MRCA Incapacity Payments Cross Agency Working Group (IPWG) & SRCA changes
The Committee was updated on the implementation of the recommendations from the IPWG.
Report from the Health Consultative Forum
Following discussions between the two departments, it was agreed that, as the Forum’s body of work was now complete, the Forum would be ‘sunsetted’.
On Base Advisory Service (OBAS)
The Committee was advised that the final report of the OBAS review is being drafted and will be distributed to the Committee members when finalised.
Report from the Defence Links Research Working Group
Defence provided a verbal report to the Committee. The two major shared projects – the Transition and Wellbeing Research Program and theMRCA Rehabilitation Long-Term Study are on track and progressing well.
General Business
The Chair and Committee members thanked both RADM Walker (in absentia) and AVMNeedham for their contributions over recent years. AVM Tracy Smart and RADM Brett Wolski will commence their roles in 2016.